Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 199, NWS Tucson, AZ

September 12, 2026Pima County, Santa Cruz County, Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Sep 12, 2026, 1:31 PM MST for Pima County, Santa Cruz County, Arizona. It was in force for 3 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Sep 12, 2026, 1:31 PM MST (20:31 UTC)
Expired
Sep 12, 2026, 4:30 PM MST
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Tucson, AZ
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Pima County, AZ, Santa Cruz County, AZ

The radar

The Tucson radar (KEMX), 27 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:31 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Phoenix, AZ (KPSR), launched 12:00Z, 8.5 hours before the alert went out and 210 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Phoenix, AZ at 12:00Z on 2026-09-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 178 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Phoenix, AZ at 12:00Z on 2026-09-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 6 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
178 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-203 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1843 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
13 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
6 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
44 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

499 
WGUS55 KTWC 122031
FFWTWC
AZC019-023-122330-
/O.NEW.KTWC.FF.W.0199.260912T2031Z-260912T2330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
131 PM MST Sat Sep 12 2026

The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  East Central Pima County in southeastern Arizona...
  North Central Santa Cruz County in southeastern Arizona...

* Until 430 PM MST.

* At 131 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area, with the heaviest rain falling
  between Green Valley and Madera Canyon. Between 1 and 2 inches of
  rain have fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin
  shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
           highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
           drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Sahuarita and Madera Canyon.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Santa Cruz River, Gardner Canyon, Box Canyon Wash, Sonoita Creek
  and Josephine Canyon.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded
roads. Find an alternate route.

Remain alert for flooding even in locations not receiving rain.
Washes, streams, and rivers can become raging killer currents in a
matter of minutes, even from distant rainfall.

&&

LAT...LON 3173 11097 3181 11100 3187 11098 3189 11090
      3188 11082 3185 11079 3181 11078 3174 11075
      3166 11078 3166 11084 3172 11097

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

GEL
2 follow-up statements
724 
WGUS75 KTWC 122145
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
245 PM MST Sat Sep 12 2026

AZC019-023-122330-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.W.0199.000000T0000Z-260912T2330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Pima AZ-Santa Cruz AZ-
245 PM MST Sat Sep 12 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 PM MST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR EAST CENTRAL PIMA AND NORTH CENTRAL SANTA CRUZ
COUNTIES...

At 245 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms have diminished
in the warned area extending from Green Valley to Madera Canyon.
Between 1 and 2 inches of rain have fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing
or expected to begin shortly.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
         highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
         drainage and low-lying areas.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Sahuarita and Madera Canyon.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Santa Cruz River, Gardner Canyon, Box Canyon Wash, Sonoita Creek
  and Josephine Canyon.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded
roads. Find an alternate route.

Remain alert for flooding even in locations not receiving rain.
Washes, streams, and rivers can become raging killer currents in a
matter of minutes, even from distant rainfall.

&&

LAT...LON 3173 11097 3181 11100 3187 11098 3189 11090
      3188 11082 3185 11079 3181 11078 3174 11075
      3166 11078 3166 11084 3172 11097

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

GEL
732 
WGUS75 KTWC 122328
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
428 PM MST Sat Sep 12 2026

AZC019-023-122338-
/O.EXP.KTWC.FF.W.0199.000000T0000Z-260912T2330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Pima AZ-Santa Cruz AZ-
428 PM MST Sat Sep 12 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 430 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON FOR
EAST CENTRAL PIMA AND NORTH CENTRAL SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES...

The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.

&&

LAT...LON 3173 11097 3181 11100 3187 11098 3189 11090
      3188 11082 3185 11079 3181 11078 3174 11075
      3166 11078 3166 11084 3172 11097

$$

KM

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Tucson, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Sep 12, 1:14 PM MST, 17 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 12, 1:14 PM MST, 17 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
114 PM MST Sat Sep 12 2026

.SYNOPSIS...A more typical isolated to scattered coverage of storms
is forecast this weekend into next week. Daily high temperatures
will fluctuate between near normal and a few degrees below
normal.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Scattered storms already ongoing and continue to fill
into the Tucson Metro which is no surprise given the moisture
profile in place today in conjunction with sufficient instability.
We'll mainly be monitoring for heavy rainfall this afternoon as
scattered storms with frequent lightning continue to evolve, but
can't rule out strong gusty outflow winds. With very weak flow in
the atmosphere, the storms that do form have the potential to dump
an impactful amount of rain over the same spot resulting in water
flowing in normally dry washes and low water crossings becoming
inundated with swift moving water. HREF depicts a slight chance
(10%) for rainfall totals exceeding 3 inches. If storms do gradually
evolve into the Tucson Metro proper, we could see urban street
flooding with ponding of water on roadways and in poor drainage
areas. This weekend chances for isolated to scattered storms
continues, again with the moisture we have in place the primary
concern continues to lean toward heavy rainfall and localized
flash flooding.

Monday still looks to be a bit more active as a weak disturbance
moves across southeast Arizona. Combined with the additional
moisture we have in place, any lifting mechanism can help provide
confidence in a heavy rainfall event. QPF continues to trend up
with WPC placing portions of the forecast area under slight
risk for excessive rainfall with the potential for stronger
storms producing rainfall rates of 1-2"/hr leading to the
increased risk of localized flash flooding. Time will tell as
its difficult to time disturbances this far out.

&&

.AVIATION...Valid thru 14/00Z.
SCT SHRA/TSRA thru 13/04Z. SFC winds WLY/NWLY 6-10 kts thru 13/05
becoming terrain driven and less than 10 kts thereafter. Tomorrow,
ISOLD-SCT SHRA/TSRA aft 13/17Z. SFC winds WLY/NWLY at 6-10 kts.
Visibility 1-3 SM possible in TSRA. Aviation discussion not
updated for TAF amendments.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...A typical isolated to scattered coverage of storms
is forecast this weekend into next week. High temperatures will will
fluctuate between near normal and a few degrees below normal.
Min RH values mainly 20 to 45 percent in the valleys and 35 to 65
percent in the mountains over the next week. RH recoveries will
continue to be excellent overnight. Winds will generally remain less
than 15 mph and terrain driven. Gusty and erratic winds will
accompany thunderstorms.

&&

.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None.

&&

DVS

Visit us on Facebook, X, YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 12, 1:09 PM MST, 22 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
109 PM MST Sat Sep 12 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1255 PM     Flash Flood      2 S Picture Rocks       32.31N 111.24W
09/12/2026                   Pima               AZ   Fire Dept/Rescue

            Swift water rescue on W Rudasill rd and N
            Chaparral Rd.

&&

AJE
Local storm report, Sep 12, 1:18 PM MST, 13 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
118 PM MST Sat Sep 12 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0107 PM     Flash Flood      4 SSE Picture Rocks     32.29N 111.22W
09/12/2026                   Pima               AZ   Fire Dept/Rescue

            Swift water rescue on W Manville Rd and N
            Sandario Rd.

&&

AJE

The office that day

Everything else NWS Tucson, AZ issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 11, 5:18 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCCochise3 hr
Sep 11, 5:30 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima2 hr
Sep 11, 6:24 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise44 min
Sep 11, 6:31 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima3 hr
Sep 11, 7:01 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima119 min
Sep 11, 7:03 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPinal117 min
Sep 11, 7:07 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCCochise3 hr
Sep 11, 8:41 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCCochise, Graham3 hr
Sep 11, 9:20 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCCochise, Graham3 hr
Sep 12, 11:38 AM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima, Pinal3 hr
Sep 12, 11:43 AM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCCochise3 hr
Sep 12, 12:10 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima3 hr
Sep 12, 12:16 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCCochise, Pima, Santa Cruz20 min
Sep 12, 12:37 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima38 min
Sep 12, 12:44 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima46 min
Sep 12, 12:52 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima3 hr
Sep 12, 1:06 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima, Santa Cruz39 min
Sep 12, 1:18 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima29 min
Sep 12, 1:21 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima3 hr
Sep 12, 1:44 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCSanta Cruz46 min
Sep 12, 1:50 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCPima40 min
Sep 12, 2:01 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCSanta Cruz3 hr
Sep 12, 2:28 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningTWCPima3 hr
Sep 12, 2:45 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCSanta Cruz19 min
Sep 12, 3:06 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCPima3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Arizona, 2026Every flash flood warning in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.